Sunday, October 23, 2022

Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Lovelight #1


Title: Lovelight Farms
Series: Lovelight #1
Author: B.K. Borison
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release Date: September 20th 2022




A pasture of dead trees, a hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons, and shipments that have mysteriously gone missing—Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.

In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, she enters a contest with instafamous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, she might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on the application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only there is no boyfriend.

Enter her best friend Luka Peters. He just came home for some hot chocolate, and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process.

Lovelight Farms is a romantic comedy featuring a handsome freckled data analyst, a messy, optimistic Christmas-tree-farm owner, and a small town with the best hazelnut lattes on the east coast.

This sweet and steamy romance is a holiday happily ever after and the first book in a series of interconnected standalones following the three Lovelight owners.












The farm was sweet and charming!

We all know the story of best friends who fake being a couple, right?  The question is does it work for Lovelight Farms? 

The answer is a Yes!!

The story is sweet and perfect for the holidays!

Luca and Stella have been friends for a decade. Stella is in love with Luca but she doesn’t want to lose what she has with him in case he doesn't feel like she does. The loss of her mother almost destroyed her and she can't count on her father. She only sees him once a year for a Thanksgiving dinner that is done way before the date just so he doesn't have to explain a child he had outside his marriage to anyone else.

Stella doesn’t want to lose what she has with Luca but in order to keep the farm afloat, she enters herself into a contest with an influencer. In the contest paperwork, she said she owned the farm with her boyfriend and now she is in desperate need of a fake boyfriend. Who better than Luca to fill the place! To her shock, Luca is more than agreeable to be it.

Can Stella keep her heart in check or is her heart going to be broken by the end of the influencer's visit?

Adorable characters. I Love Luca and his mom. Lovelight Farms had a small-town feel with all the positives. Stella’s friends were both great. The kittens 🐈‍⬛ were so cute!!!

Pippa Jayne did a great job narrating this book.

I can’t wait to read the next book.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Dreamscape Media via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Suburban Hell by Maureen Kilmer


Title: Suburban Hell
Author: Maureen Kilmer
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Release Date: August 30th 2022




A Chicago cul-de-sac is about to get a new neighbor...of the demonic kind.

Amy Foster considers herself lucky. After she left the city and moved to the suburbs, she found her place quickly with neighbors Liz, Jess, and Melissa, snarking together from the outskirts of the PTA crowd. One night during their monthly wine get-together, the crew concoct a plan for a clubhouse She Shed in Liz's backyard--a space for just them, no spouses or kids allowed.

But the night after they christen the She Shed, things start to feel . . . off. They didn't expect Liz's little home-improvement project to release a demonic force that turns their quiet enclave into something out of a nightmare. And that's before the homeowners' association gets wind of it.

Even the calmest moms can't justify the strange burn marks, self-moving dolls, and horrible smells surrounding their possessed friend, Liz. Together, Amy, Jess, and Melissa must fight the evil spirit to save Liz and the neighborhood . . . before the suburbs go completely to hell.












A story of friendship and evil. 

Four neighbors, Melissa, Jess, Liz, and Amy have become friends for the last few years. They meet monthly to hang out, watch a movie and have some drinks. Liz is excited about starting the construction of her She-Shed. A place where all of them can enjoy some alone time, away from their kids and husbands. 

Unfortunately, it seems that more than dirt is unearthed when the building commences. Suddenly, Liz's personality changes. Looming darkness begins to surround their neighborhood. Accidents happened. The friends all can feel the danger they are in but how can they help Liz?

Suburban Hell was a good tale for this month of October. It was fun and entertaining.  I liked that their friendship was the driving force to help Liz. Those were good friends!!

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Saturday, October 8, 2022

The Key to My Heart by Lia Louis


Title: The Key to My Heart 
Author: Lia Louis
Publisher: Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books
Release Date: December 6, 2022





A heartwarming novel about hope after loss as a young widow receives mysterious messages of love from the “must-buy author” (Jodi Picoult) of Eight Perfect Hours.

Sparkly and charming Natalie Fincher has it all—a handsome new husband, a fixer-upper cottage of her dreams, and the opportunity to tour with the musical she’s spent years writing. But when her husband suddenly dies, all her hopes and dreams instantly disappear.

Two and a half years later, Natalie is still lost. She works, sleeps (well, as much as the sexually frustrated village foxes will allow), and sees friends just often enough to allay their worries, but her life is empty. And she can only bring herself to play music at a London train station’s public piano where she can be anonymous. She’s lost motivation, faith in love, in happiness…in everything.

But when someone begins to mysteriously leave the sheet music for her husband’s favorite songs at the station’s piano, Natalie begins to feel a sense of hope and excitement for the first time. As she investigates just who could be doing this, Natalie finds herself on an unexpected journey toward newfound love for herself, for life, and maybe, for a special someone.











A story of grief and love.

Natalie Fincher is heartbroken. Her husband passed away two and half years ago and she was left with feelings of guilt and unable to move forward. She used to write music and play the piano but now her only time spent playing the piano happens when she uses the public piano at the London train station. 

Her family and friends are worried about her. Her girlfriends are trying to stir her into dating again but she doesn't feel ready. Yet, she still goes out with them although she would prefer to be home. During one of these outings is when she meets a guy named Tom. Is not too long before Tom and Natalie start a friendship. She confides in him about playing the piano at the train station and someone leaving behind music sheets of songs she use to play to her husband while he was in the hospital. 

The mystery surrounding the papers left for her is what propels her to start interacting with more people including the owner of the coffee shop, Shauna and Notebook Guy.

The Key to My Heart was engaging, with a plot that moves forward with a natural flow. My favorite part was the last reveal which was pretty great in my opinion. 

This is the 3rd book I have read by Lia Louis and I'm a fan. 

I want to thank Melissa and Jayme to read it with me. Buddy-reads are the best!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.